THE NIAGARA INTERGROUP DCM IS JOYCE W. AT joykiss46@aol.com

What is a D.C.M.?
The heart of A.A. is the group, which elects a general service representative (G.S.R.). The G.S.R. attends district meetings that are made up of the groups in that district. The G.S.R.s elect a district committee member (D.C.M.). Thus, the D.C.M. is the vital link between the group’s G.S.R., and the area service structure, including the area’s delegate to the General Service Conference.

Where does the D.C.M. come from?
G.S.R.s in each district usually elect their D.C.M.s The qualifications for a good district committee member are not complicated: background in A.A. service work that goes with the G.S.R. job, and perhaps some central office/intergroup service; enough sobriety (say four to five years) to be eligible for election to area office; and the time and energy to serve the groups and district well.

When is the D.C.M. elected?
D.C.M.s are usually elected before the area assembly meeting at which the delegate is elected. Some areas, however, rotate half their committee members each year.

How long does the D.C.M. serve?
Most D.C.M.s serve for a two-year period.

What does the D.C.M. do?
The D.C.M. carries the collective group conscience of the A.A. groups in the district to the area committee. Among the two-way communication responsibilities of the D.C.M. are:

• Holding regular meetings of all G.S.R.s in the district.
• Assisting the delegate in obtaining group information in time to meet the deadline for appropriate A.A. directories.
• Keeping G.S.R.s informed about Conference activities.
• Acquainting G.S.R.s with The A.A. Service Manual, Box 4-5-9, and other A.A. literature.
• Holding workshops on carrying the message of the Seventh Tradition to nonsupporting A.A. groups.
• Holding sharing sessions on just about any service subject.
• And, of course, making a regular practice of talking to groups (new and old) on the responsibilities of general service work.

Are there growing responsibilities for the D.C.M.?
Continuing growth of the Fellowship brings new opportunities for service to the D.C.M. As the numbers of groups in an area increase, the maintenance of a vital active link between the groups and the Fellowship as a whole becomes a challenge to the D.C.M.s. By maintaining active contact, both with the groups in the district and with the area delegate, the D.C.M. is a key link in ensuring that all the A.A. groups are aware of the importance of their total participation in local, district, area and world services.